Radially relieved locating pin

ABSTRACT

A precision, hardened, radially relieved locating pin ( 20 ) comprised of a pair of cylindrically ground radially opposed locating segments ( 22 ), a pair of radially opposed radial reliefs ( 26 ) adjacent to locating segments ( 22 ), a chamfered lead portion ( 30 ) and a mounting/attachment portion ( 32 ) which be of any suitable configuration allowing interchangeability with diamond pin designs. The locating segments ( 22 ), chamfered lead ( 30 ) and mounting/attachment portion ( 32 ) are machined concentric about a common centerline ( 34 ). The radially opposed radial reliefs centerlines ( 36 ) are offset ( 38 ) from, although parallel to, common centerline ( 34 ). The amount of offset ( 36 ) is a direct function of desired travel ( 40 ) allowed between locating pin ( 20 ) and feature it is locating ( 42 ). The width ( 44 ) of radially opposed locating segments ( 22 ) is currently a percentage of segment diameter ( 24 ). Relieved locating pin ( 20 ) is to be of hardened steel and requires no custom machines or custom tooling to manufacture.

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] This invention relates to providing an easy to manufacture radially relieved locating pin which exhibits transverse strength nearing that which is only obtainable by a cylindrical pin.

[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0004] Assemblies, equipment, machinery, tooling, etc, currently utilizing freedom of related hole placment, must rely on use of relieved locating pins which to date are of a diamond configuration. Pins of a diamond configuration are inherently weak due to massive amount of material removal required to obtain a configuration refered to as a diamond. By removing forementioned amounts of material greatly reduces the diamond pins transverse strength. No pin known to date posesses a non-point line contact of a current diamond relieved locating pin and the transverse strengths nearing that of a cylindrical locating pin.

[0005] Objects and Advantages

[0006] Accordingly, besides the objects and adventages of the radially relieved locating pin described in my above patent, several objects and advantages of present invention are:

[0007] (a) to provide a relieved locating pin that exibits transverse strengths nearing that only obtainable by a full size cylindrical pin;

[0008] (b) to provide a stronger locating pin that is interchangable with existing weaker pins of diamond design;

[0009] (c) to provide a pin who's superior strength will minimize breakage reducing possibility of damage to related assemblies;

[0010] (d) to provide a relieved locating pin who's configuration requires minimal material removal;

[0011] (e) to provide a relieved locating pin which requires no dedicated machinery or dedicated tooling to manufacture;

[0012] (f) to provide a relieved locating pin with reduced manufacturing costs.

[0013] Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a comsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

SUMMARY

[0014] In accordance with the present invention a radially relieved locating pin comprises two opposed cylindrically ground locating segments adjacent to two opposed radial reliefs, a mounting provision resides directly adjacent to above and is concentric with locating segments.

DRAWINGS

[0015] Drawing Figures

[0016] In the drawings, related figures utilize the same number for same feature.

[0017]FIG. 1 shows a isometric view of an assembly showing proper orientation of a radially relieved locating pin to it's corresponding primary locator.

[0018]FIG. 2 shows a plan view ow a radially relieved locating pin.

[0019]FIG. 3 shows a side view of a radially relieved locating pin.

[0020] Reference Numerals in Drawing

[0021]20 radially relieved locating pin

[0022]22 cylindrically ground locating segments

[0023]24 cylindrically ground ground diameter of locating segments

[0024]26 radial reliefs

[0025]28 radius of radial reliefs

[0026]30 chamfered insertion lead

[0027]32 mounting/attachment portion

[0028]34 common centerline of locating segments and mounting/attachment features

[0029]36 centerlines for locating radial reliefs

[0030]38 offset from primary centerline radial relief centerlines

[0031]40 linear travel allowed by configuration

[0032]42 corresponding hole in mating part

[0033]44 width of locating segments

[0034]46 cylindrical primary locator

[0035]48 distance between radially relieved locating pin and corresponding primary locator

[0036]50 angle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Description—FIG. 1, FIG.—2, FIG.—3

[0038] Typical embodiment of radially relieved locating pin of this invention are illustrated in FIG. 1 (isometric view), FIG. 2 (end view) and FIG. 3 (side view). The radially relieved locating pin 20 is comprised of two opposed cylindrically ground locating segments 22 concentric about centerline 34 with a diameter of 24. The width of locating segments 22 is defined as a percentage of diameter 24 to obtain width 44 which is symmetrical about centerline 34. Adjacent to locating segments 22 are two opposed radial radial reliefs 26. The size of radial reliefs 26 is determined by desired linear movement 40 and corresponding hole diameter 42. The above information determines radial relief radius 28, relief centerlines 36 and relief centerline offset dimensions 38. To aid insertion of locating pin 20 into mating hole a chamfer 30 which is concentric about centerline 34 is provided. At the opposite end of locating pin 20 is a cylindrical provision 32 which is concentric to locating segments 22 is shown for mounting/attachment 32. Primary locator 46 is shown to provide a proper visual orientation installation relationship to relieved locating pin 20. The installation angle primary locator 46 and locating pin 20 is to be perpendicular 50 to common centerline as shown. By using a radially relieved locating pin 20 as shown, the spread between primary locator 46 and radially relieved locating pin 20 can accept a relaxed tolerance 48. There are numerous methods of mounting and adding additional features may be beneficial for the manufacture of radially relieved locating pins. Therefore this patent is not to be limited to configuration shown.

[0039] Operation of Radially Relieved Locating Pin

[0040] In FIG. 2 (top view) it is easy to see that the cylindrical primary locator 46 would positively locate a part while the radially relieved locating pin 20 is for radial positioning only. Radial positioning pins often have great pressures exerted against them and need to be as strong as possible. The radially relieved locating pin 20 has almost as much strength as a full cylindrical pin of same size since there is minimum metal removal 26 required to obtain this configuration.

SUMMERY, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

[0041] Accordingly, the reader will see that the radially relieved locating pin of this invention is a very important and necessary device for use in all types of transportation, equipment, machinery, tooling, etc for prevention of failures thereby minimizing the possibility of catastrophic damage to related enities.

[0042] Furthermore the radially relieved locating requires minimum material removal;

[0043] it is much stronger than a same size diamond pin of present art;

[0044] it helps prevent expensive damage caused by failuer of diamond pins of present art;

[0045] it can be configured as a direct replacment for much weaker diamond pins of present art;

[0046] it is less expensive to manufacture;

[0047] it does not require custom dedicated machinery;

[0048] it does not require custom dedicated tooling.

[0049] it saves man hours required replacing relieved pins of lesser strength;

[0050] Although the descriptions above list many advantages, these should not be construded as limiting the scope of this invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the advantages of using this invention.

[0051] For example the radially relieved locating pin may have other methods for mounting and may contain reliefs and radii to aid manufacture.

[0052] Thus the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by examples given. 

I claim:
 1. In a radially relieved locating pin of this invention exibits far greater strength than present weaker diamond pin designs since minimum material removal is required. The radially relieved locating pin consists of a locating portion and a mounting/attachment portion, both of which are concentric about a common centerline. The locating portion consists of a relieved cylindrical configuration which can be tailored to be interchangable with current diamond pin designs. The mounting portion may exibit any configuration which would allow interchangability with current diamond pin designs.
 2. The radially relieved locating pin of claim 1 requires less metal removal reducing manufacturing costs.
 3. The locating pin of claim 2 since a minimum amount of material removal is required the strength is almost that of a cylindrical pin of equal size.
 4. The locating pin of claim 3 since stronger than existing diamond pin designs, one could use a smaller pin to accomplish same task if desired.
 5. The locating pin of claim 1 requires no custom dedicated machines or dedicated tooling to manufacture.
 6. The locating pin in claim 5 requires only a common precision grinder with a 4-jaw chuck to manufacture configuration shown in this invention. 